Malidoma Patrice Somé, PhD
Malidoma Patrice Somé, PhD, is one of today's most eloquent champions of indigenous wisdom. His life and teaching form a bridge between the traditional ways of his people, the Dagara of West Africa – among whom he is an initiated elder – and the modern world. He is a gifted medicine man and diviner, as well as a compelling teacher and author. For more than 20 years, Malidoma has shared the ancient knowledge of his tribe with people in the West who are increasingly disconnected from their ancestors, spirit, and the richness of life in community. His voice awakens in our hearts the recognition that we are all born with a life purpose to fulfill and that we can do so in a deep and abiding relationship with all beings. Dr. Somé is the author of several books, including Ritual: Power, Healing and Community, The Healing Wisdom of Africa, and his acclaimed autobiography, Of Water and the Spirit.
| Pre-Festival Intensive | Monday, August 18, 7:00 pm–Wednesday, August 20, 4:30 pm |
Some of our most difficult and challenging life circumstances are a call to awaken our human potential that includes our capacity to heal. In this two-day workshop, West African elder Malidoma Somé will offer simple and powerful teachings, rituals, and initiations designed to help you to mobilize and boost your healing powers. Participants will learn how to read into their life challenges and follow the lead of the spirit into what they are called to do–including both their purpose and how they can open themselves to handle their own circumstances and to serve others. No one is ever too small for the task brought to him/her by spirit. To trust the invitation to awake into your healing powers is the key to living authentically and fully. With the help of the ancestral world, participants will attune to their innate capacity to discover their deepest life purpose and the gifts that flow naturally from within.
Inner purpose and sacred gifts arise from life's initiatory challenges. During these two-day workshops Malidoma will lead participants into transformation rituals rooted in his own African cosmology. They will invoke their ancestors to guide them to a better understanding of their connection to the spirit world and a greater clarity about their purpose on this planet.
For building shrines and opening sacred space to enter into community rituals, participants are requested to bring red, blue, black, yellow, green, and white cloth, pictures of dead relatives and friends, stones, and any sacred object they feel might add to the process.
| Opening Ceremony & Keynote | Wednesday, August 20 | 7:00–8:30 pm |
| Afternoon Breakout Workshop | Thursday, August 21 & Saturday, August 23 | 3:00–5:00 pm |
In this afternoon workshop, West African elder Malidoma Somé will offer simple and powerful teachings, rituals, and initiations designed to help you to mobilize your healing power, even in the midst of the most difficult and challenging life circumstances. With the help of the ancestral world, participants will attune to their innate capacities to discover their deepest life purpose and the gifts that flow naturally from within.
In order to awaken your inner purpose and most sacred gifts, Malidoma will guide participants in sacred rituals rooted in his own Dagara cosmology. Through coming to a better understanding and embodiment of our deeper life purpose, we are then able to make use of our most sacred gifts for the benefit of others and of this world.
To contribute to the creation of sacred space, participants are asked to bring shrine material: white, blue, black, yellow, and red cloth, pictures of ancestors, stones, bones, and any sacred object that might add to the sacredness of the space.
| Afternoon Breakout Workshop | Friday, August 22 | 3:00–5:00 pm |
Various changes in our world are a confirmation and a testimony that global transformation cannot happen without everyone in the world being willing and able to shed a plethora of unwanted calcifications. How do we address all the things that stop us from change, including the scars of loss and the cleansing of the graffiti that litters the wall of our psyches?
Let us join together to grieve. Grief is a cleansing tool and an effective method of release we need in these times of loss. Let us gather to boldly express through grief the loss of connection with ancestors and loved ones; the loss of love, health and wealth, identity and belonging, home and care.
Joining together in support of each other sends a force to be reckoned with against adversity–a force that realigns us with our purpose, gifts, and the deep story of our lives. It is a force capable of restoring the sense of fullness we have always felt we deserve. Through ritual we can return community to us.
| Closing Ceremony | Sunday, August 24 | 11:45 am–12:30 pm |